New Book Unveils Hidden Details of Daya Pathirana Murder 📉

Senior journalist Dharman Wickremaratne will launch his 56th book, _'The Unseen Side of the Daya Pathirana Murder'_, exploring a pivotal moment in Sri Lanka’s political history. • Key Focus: The publication provides an in-depth examination of the 1986 assassination of Daya Pathirana, leader of the Independent Student Union at the University of Colombo. This incident is historically recorded as the first murder within the student movement during the second JVP insurrection. • Context & Content: Spanning 392 pages with over 100 photographs, the book documents the surrounding political and social landscape of the 1986–1990 period. It names specific individuals involved and provides a detailed account of events that shaped the era’s insurrectionary violence. • Event Details: - Date/Time: 21 January 2026 at 3:00 p.m. - Venue: National Library Auditorium, Colombo 7. - Panel: Chaired by Dr. Wijedasa Rajapakshe, featuring former student leaders Champika Ranawaka, Prof. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri, and Gevindu Kumaratunga. • Significance: This is Wickremaratne’s fifth work on the second insurrection, following well-received titles like _Ginnen Upan Gini Pupuru_. The launch offers a critical retrospective on a period that significantly impacted Sri Lanka's social fabric and higher education sectors. The event is open to the public.